Octosquid?

This post was originally from July of 2007. Several of my students wanted a chance to see this newly discovered species, so I've reposted it here... Enjoy! Look at this! An animal that looks like some sort of half octopus, half squid was found in the ocean at Keahole Point in Hawaii. Local biologists think that it could possibly be a new species, but so far, no one has been able to identify it. This creature seems to have gotten sucked up into a deep seawater pipeline at the Natural Energy Laboratory Authority at Keahole, Hawaii. The pipeline pumps cold water up from 3,000 feet below sea level. Every now and then, deep-sea animals get caught in a filter in the line. Workers who discovered this one are calling it an "octosquid" because it has the body of a squid and the tentacles of an octopus. The octosquid only lived for three days once it was found by researchers. Now, it will be sent to the University of Hawaii for further tests and study. Richard Young, who is a professor at the University said that the specimen tentatively belongs to the genus Mastigoteuthis, but that the species not yet determined.

Characteristics for Mastigoteuthis:

Arms -- with expanded lateral membranes which form tentacular sheaths. Tentacles -- virtually cyclindrical; with suckers in many irregular series (30 or more in some species). Funnel -- locking-apparatus oval, usually with knobs affecting the shape of the depression in the funnel component in different species; specific shape varies with species. Fins -- large to very large, with terminal position. Tail -- Short tail present (often absent due to damage during capture). Photophores -- present on eyeball or eyelid